Hardeeville moves forward with Hilton Head Lakes fire station

The planned two new fire stations will double the fire protection for Hardeeville residents. Not shown is the other existing fire station - Cherry Point Station on John Smith Road at S.C. 170 and U.S. 278.

Hardeeville is moving forward with plans for a near $1 million fire station inside Hilton Head Lakes.

City Councilman Sal Arzillo said the plans were delayed because the population was not enough. However, now that the subdivision has 75 houses sold and about 150 residents, plans are moving forward.

Hilton Head Lakes managing partner Joe Brinn declined to comment about the progress.

“It is planned to be about a 5,000-square-foot fire station and not just serve Hilton Head Lakes but the whole area of Hardeeville,” City Manager Bob Nanni said.

Nanni said next steps are to negotiate easement with Hilton Head Lakes to get in and build the fire station. The city will then make one more review before sending the bid package to contractors.

“The bid will probably be out in four to six weeks,” Nanni said.

Nanni said the architectural design and planning by Grady Woods is 90 percent completed.

“I’ve tried to complement the neighborhood design but also keep the more traditional look the city of Hardeeville has and accommodate those two into the fire station design,” Woods said. “It will be a one-story structure with a living quarter, eight bunk rooms and will have a public entry way and office.”

The station is being paid for through developer’s fees and the cost of the Hilton Head Lakes North station will be just under $1 million. Two Pierce pumpers, fire engines were purchased in March 2011 and are currently in use at the two fire stations in Hardeeville.

Hardeeville Fire Department Chief Dan Morgan said he is to hear back from Woods with a construction timeline soon.

“Plans are about 90 to 95 percent complete and the plan is to hire about six more firefighters for the new station,” Morgan said.

The firefighters will be full-time employees, he said.

The two existing Hardeeville fire stations are at 29 Martin Street off Main Street and on John Smith Road at S.C. 170 and U.S. 278.

The Hilton Head Lakes North station is one of two planned for Hardeeville.

The second station is to be built within the planned commercial and mixed-use site of RiverPort Business Park off Interstate 95. RiverPort is 5,136 acres south of Hardeeville. It has been zoned as a Planned Development District (PDD) and will be permitted for warehousing, distribution and light industrial, commercial and mixed use.

Hardeeville Planning Director Brana Rogerson said Wednesday there is no update of when the RiverPort fire station will be built.